Nosh Pit

First Look: Inside the Melrose Project

Plus: an update from Sitka and Spruce’s Matthew Dillon.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Apr 20, 2010 at 03:10PM0 Comments

The L-shaped Sitka and Spruce lines a considerable chunk of the south-facing wall.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

The L-shaped Sitka and Spruce lines a considerable chunk of the south-facing wall.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

The Calf and Kid owner Sheri LaVigne plans to stock cheeses from small local creameries and a variety of imports. She will also carry bread from Macrina Bakery.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Say cheese! Come Friday plenty of it will fill this fridge. To the left will sit the counter and a display selling other goodies, such as olives.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

On one side of The Calf and Kid is Matthew Dillon’s Bar Ferd’nand, a joint project with Corson Building sommelier Marc Papineau and friend Jared Baily.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

As you can see, Bar Ferd’nand is far from finished. Dillon expects it will open early in the summer.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

On the other side of The Calf and Kid is Homegrown, which is just now getting underway and is looking at an early summer opening. This will mark the second storefront for the gourmet sandwich shop and will open out to the sidewalk.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Rain Shadow Meats, Homegrown, Calf and Kid, and Sitka and Spruce all hope to make the most of their new neighbors—for example, keep an eye out for sandwiches made with Calf and Kid cheese, Rain Shadow delicacies at Sitka and Spruce, and even cheese-centric dinners at Sitka and Spruce.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Marigold and Mint was the first to open for business.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Owner Katherine Anderson stocks Maison Bouche chocolates from San Francisco. She says she’s the only one to carry them in Seattle.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Looking toward Melrose Avenue. The windows at the end of the hallway will slide open. On the left is Bar Ferd’nand; to the right, Sitka and Spruce.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

The Melrose Project on Capitol Hill is shaping up to be quite the food lover’s Eden.

The triangular building sprawled between Pike and Pine is home to cheese shop The Calf and Kid and butcher Rain Shadow Meats, both of which debut Friday. Already open is Marigold and Mint, a flower shop whose owner, Katherine Anderson, hopes to operate a produce delivery service and stock seasonal foodstuffs. And perhaps the most anticipated tenant is the reincarnated Sitka and Spruce, relocating from the former Eastlake digs now housing Nettletown.

I just spoke with Sitka owner Matthew Dillon. He anticipates construction on his much-loved restaurant will be complete around May 10; if all goes as planned, the opening will take place a week thereafter. Dillon is also teaming up with Corson Building sommelier Marc Papineau and wine guy Jared Baily to launch Bar Ferd’nand, which will sit across from Sitka and Spruce.

At once a wine bar, noshing spot, and retail outlet, Bar Ferd’nand will offer simple foods such as fish, oysters, nuts, and olives, Dillon says. Expect that to open several weeks after Sitka.

To get a sneak peek of Sitka and Spruce and Bar Ferd’nand, and to see how the rest of Melrose Project is shaping up, click the photo above.

Tags: New Seattle Restaurants, Seattle Restaurant Openings, Capitol Hill, Cheese, Sandwiches, Melrose Market,